Mikel Merino made nine appearances for Dortmund in his debut season in Germany.
Photograph: Serena Taylor/Newcastle Utd via Getty Images

Newcastle have confirmed the signing of Spain Under-21 midfielder Mikel Merino on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund.

Merino, who began his career at Osasuna before moving to Germany last summer and made nine appearances for Dortmund in his debut campaign, becomes the fifth new arrival at St James’ Park following the signings of Jacob Murphy and Javier Manquillo last week,

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“It feels good and I’m very happy to be here, to be part of this club. I’m looking forward to touching the ball, meeting my new team-mates and starting to play football,” the 21-year-old told Newcastle’s website.

“I know it’s a great club and a really nice city. I had different options but I think this is the right place for me to play.”

Manager Rafa Benítez added: “Mikel is a midfielder with talent, an under-21 international for Spain. He’s a good size, has quality on the ball and he’s very, very focused and professional. Hopefully he’s the kind of player we can improve a lot - he certainly has the mentality to get better and better.

“He comes from a top side in Dortmund and although he did not play too much last season, he was signed as a young, talented player and to be signed by a club like that shows that he has something good. He has to show what he has, and hopefully he can enjoy playing here for a long time.”

Gareth Bale’s agent has dismissed reports that the Wales international could leave Real Madrid for Manchester United this summer, insisting his client is happy in Spain. “It’s completely irresponsible journalism,” said Jonathan Barnett. Bale signed a new six-year contract worth £350,000 a week after tax with a €1bn buyout clause last October.

Bayern Munich have reportedly claimed Chelsea manager Antonio Conte made an inquiry about their midfielder Renato Sanches. The German giants’ chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Conte expressed interest in Sanches after the clubs’ friendly in Singapore on Tuesday.

Sanches moved to Bayern from Benfica only 12 months ago but the 19-year-old has struggled for a regular starting spot under manager Carlo Ancelotti. He made just 17 appearances in the Bundesliga last season and Rummenigge says Chelsea are one of a number of teams keen on the Portuguese teenager. Milan have also held talks with Sanches’s agent Jorge Mendes.

“There are at least 10 teams after Sanches,” Rummenigge told the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Conte asked for some information about him after Tuesday’s match because he knows he can make the difference in the middle of the pitch.

“The lad wants to play regularly but Ancelotti was pleased with his performance against Chelsea. We’ll make our evaluations later but if he does leave then he almost certainly will go on loan. We’re still counting on him.”

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have confirmed the £6.5m signing of Ashley Fletcher from West Ham.

The 21-year-old striker has agreed a four-year contract to become big-spending Boro’s seventh new signing this summer.

Fletcher joined West Ham from Manchester United last year but started just two Premier League matches, and has been pushed further down the pecking order by the arrival of Javier Hernández.